Following an investigation launched by the Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) into Ola and Rapido for alleged unfair trade practices linked to their ‘advance tipping’ feature, a growing number of commuters in Bengaluru are demanding that the probe be expanded to include more apps, such as the homegrown Namma Yatri, among others.

They allege that Namma Yatri was the first in Bengaluru to introduce this practice, and continues to nudge passengers into paying tips during peak hours to secure rides.

On May 21, Union Consumer Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi directed the CCPA to issue a notice to Uber regarding its use of advance tipping, where riders are prompted to tip drivers during the booking process, rather than after the ride. A day later, Mr. Joshi confirmed that similar notices were being considered for Ola and Rapido.

“This feature, which was historically meant to be a voluntary gesture of appreciation after a service, is now being misused as a tool to manipulate ride allocation,” Mr. Joshi said. “These tactics are deeply concerning and qualify as unfair trade practices. Fairness, transparency and accountability must be upheld in all customer interactions.”

In recent months, several ride-hailing apps have pushed riders to ‘tip more’ to increase their chances of getting a ride. The move comes amid growing frustration over cancellations and delays, but it has left users feeling compelled into paying more than the listed fare just to get a confirmed booking.

Commuters call for probe 

While the spotlight is now on Ola, Rapido, and Uber, Bengaluru residents say Namma Yatri must also be held accountable.

“It is unfair to charge tips, especially during peak hours, and it feels almost forced,” said Bhuvan Rao, a frequent user of the app and a resident of Jalahalli. “Sometimes, the app refuses to find a ride unless you add a tip. This defeats the purpose of a voluntary contribution. All such practices must be investigated thoroughly,” he added.

Sangeetha Raj from JP Nagar shared a similar experience. “I had to go from J.P. Nagar to Shivajinagar, and back. Initially, I couldn’t get any auto. But the moment I added a ₹20 tip, an auto got confirmed. This has happened to me multiple times.It feels like there is some algorithm at play, like we’re being manipulated into tipping just to get basic service. Honestly, it’s becoming easier to just hail an auto on the street like we used to.”

For others, the issue goes beyond being nudged to tip.

Ravi Prakash, a resident of Indiranagar, says, “Last week, I booked a ride using Namma Yatri for my elderly mother to get to a clinic. Despite multiple attempts, we couldn’t get an auto until I added a ₹50 tip. Even after that, there was a long wait. The app says it’s voluntary, but what’s voluntary about being stuck unless you pay extra? Also, there’s no transparency on where the tip is going. If it’s meant for drivers, why don’t they acknowledge receiving it? It’s high time the government steps in and puts an end to these manipulative tactics.”

Tweaks tip wording

Interestingly, after the Centre’s intervention, Namma Yatri modified the in-app language from ‘Add a tip’ to ‘Add more (voluntary) to find a ride’. Despite this cosmetic change, users continue to complain about what they describe as algorithmic pressure to tip before rides are confirmed.

Auto drivers too say they are left in the dark. “We don’t get any separate tip. All we see is the final fare amount. There’s no breakdown showing any tip. If the customer has paid a tip, we don’t know. As far as we are concerned, these companies are using us to extract more money without any benefit to us. The government must step in and ensure fairness for drivers too,” said Puneeth Kumar, an auto driver from Rajajinagar.

Namma Yatri defends voluntary tip feature

Responding to these concerns, Shan M. S., Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Namma Yatri, said, “Mobility should be open, transparent, and community-led. On recent tipping concerns, our ‘Add More’ feature is 100% voluntary, customer-led, and the UI now clearly reflects this. Namma Yatri’s model is direct-to-driver, with no commission, no stake in the final fare, no discounts, and no unreasonable surge. The goal is simple: pricing that’s fair, sustainable, and empathetic to both drivers and riders. We’re always open to community feedback.”

He added that the app supports Mr. Joshi’s call for fairness and transparency, ‘to support community-based pricing, we have a bounded driver addition and an optional ‘Add More’ feature — a voluntary gesture to recognise extra effort by drivers during long waits, distant pick-ups, peak-hour traffic, or return trip availability. It also helps reduce offline negotiations. We’ve now updated the UI to make it explicitly clear that this is optional, voluntary, and fully customer-led’.

When asked whether complaints had been received about the tipping feature, Namma Yatri stated there had been none so far. “We’ve updated the User Interface(UI) to make it explicitly clear that this is optional, voluntary, and fully customer-led,” a statement by Namma Yatri to The Hindu stated.